CHPN FREE Hospice and Palliative Nurse MCQ Questions and Answers 3

Question 1

A palliative care patient with a bowel obstruction and a life expectancy of days is experiencing nausea and vomiting. Which pharmacologic approach is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Octreotide to reduce intestinal secretions

Answer

Octreotide reduces gastrointestinal secretions and is preferred in malignant bowel obstruction when prokinetic agents are contraindicated.

Question 2

According to Medicare hospice benefit guidelines, which criterion must be met for a patient to be eligible for hospice services?

Accepted Answer

Two physicians certify a prognosis of six months or less if the disease runs its normal course

Answer

Medicare hospice eligibility requires physician certification of a six-month or less prognosis if the terminal illness follows its expected trajectory.

Question 3

Which of the following is a hallmark sign that distinguishes terminal restlessness from undertreated pain in a dying patient?

Accepted Answer

Purposeless, repetitive movements with fluctuating consciousness

Answer

Terminal restlessness typically presents with purposeless agitation, moaning, and altered consciousness rather than localized pain behaviors.

Question 4

A hospice patient with advanced cancer develops hypercalcemia. Which symptom cluster should the nurse most expect to assess?

Accepted Answer

Confusion, constipation, polyuria, and nausea

Answer

Hypercalcemia of malignancy classically presents with neurologic changes, GI symptoms, and renal effects including confusion, constipation, polyuria, and nausea.

Question 5

Which ethical principle is the hospice nurse primarily applying when administering increasing doses of morphine to relieve intractable pain, knowing it may hasten death?

Accepted Answer

The principle of double effect

Answer

The principle of double effect permits an action with a foreseeable harmful side effect if the primary intention is to relieve suffering, not to cause death.

CHPN - Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse Practice Test

CHPN - Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse Practice Test

CHPN FREE Hospice and Palliative Nurse MCQ Questions and Answers 3